Hear me out before you start with the remarks. My GF is thinking about getting rid of her current car, and thinks the 4runner is a bit too big for her. I would love to stay with the Toyota family, but have heard nothing about the Rav4. Anybody have one of these, or any experience with them? It would never get used off road, but would be nice to have the 4 wheel drive for the snow around here. Every other car around here is an Outback so I'm trying to steer her away from those. Anyone have advice or experience with the Rav4?

 

Stay with the 4Runner!

 

It's a Toyota, how bad could it be?

 

i think the Rav4 is just to small, my g/f wants a Highlander, wich we are thinking about, its not tooooo small, but not to big, and it would be just for her, and she would also never take it off road, look into them.

 

I used to have an 01 RAV4 and it felt just as big inside, if not bigger, than my 03 4runner. The only place it's a little bit smaller is the rear cargo area. It rides lower and has a higher ceiling than the 4runner, so that's probably why it seems bigger on the inside. From the outside though, it does look tiny. The only thing I didn't like was the weak engine my 01 had. The new 04's have a new 2.4 liter which is supposed to be a bit more powerful.
Check out www.rav4world.com for some good info and a nice forum for RAV4s.

 

My brother has a RAV4 Limited and I think it's a great little CAR. you get better ground clearence, it feels very nimble and has a great roadhandling manners. Only thing bad thing about this car is that it has a dinky engine that's weak and loud.

 

My mom has a Rav4. It is a get up and go type of car. Really easy on gas, nice and small. I would say it is a fun little car for city/town use. Only thing I didn`t like was the road noise, it is an older one so they probably remedied that problem.

 

Thanks for the feedback. We're gonna have to wait until after the holidays to start looking, but it sounds like this might be a good option for her to at least look into. Something slow might actually keep her out of trouble for a while.

 

I bought my wife a RAV4 and she loves it! Very reliable, cheap to insure, excellent on gas! It does everything she needs to get back and forth from work in comfort. For the price it is a good solution.







Of course I bought myself a new 4runner Limited w/v8!!

 

My girlfriend LOVES the Rav4, her mother has an older one and has had no problems at all. I think its perfect for girls, my girlfriend is saving up to buy one, she screams everytime she sees one, have any of you seen the new two door versions? Too bad they dont offer it here...

 

We have a '98 RAV4. Our experience is a little different, don't know if it was the stealership or something else, but we had to have an engine replaced in it (after the stealership screwed up a rebuild) and had the 5-speed tranny rebuilt (by an outside shop, for $1800 less than they wanted to do it for.)

Then a week after the tranny was rebuilt, Bambi ran into it and caused about $5 grand of damage to the front end.

So other than replacing pretty much the entire drivetrain and the body, it's been a great car. :cry:

Would I buy another RAV4? Doubt it. Luckily, it's not the first 'yota we have purchased, so we're okay with their reliability (we have owned a 73 Celica, a 90 Tercel, a 91 Corolla and of course my '91 4Runner.)

 

What about a highlander?

 

In my search for a car I looked at everything. Jeep YJ, TJ, KJ, Dodge trucks, camrys, corollas, chevy trucks, GMC trucks, Highlanders, and RAV4s.

I drove the rav 4 and it was a solid little car. But don't think your getting anything but a tall corolla. I would say bring her to drive a 2003/4 corolla and if she likes that then she would like the RAV4. It felt sporty and fun to drive, that is, if it actually fit me. I'm 6' and not a big person by any streatch of the imagination, but it felt a bit cramped. However, my roommates GF has one and she loves it.

My final thoughts are: go test one and see what you two think.


Oh yeah: I found highlanders to to way too expensive! (as in 23-25K)

 

Did you buy Rav4? Didn't see if you did or not. Bought the Wife an 01. Engine is a little weak and long rides can be uncomfortable. We have had no problems. Some engine Mods can improve performance and SheepSkin has improved long rides. I would tell your GF to test drive and if decision is to buy, do it. Resell value is typical Toyota as is reliability.

 

She decided to pay off her current car (another 7 months) before we look again. Tried to talk her into an 02 Tacoma TRD with an auto (she can't drive a stick) but $20k was a bit too steep.

 

The Rav4 we got was around 20K. Tacoma is good too. Just stick with a yota.

 

My mom has a 2003 RAV4 and it is a decent little rig.

I have never seen her put gas in it.

It zooms around town for a little bugger. It accelerates faster than my rig. Feels pretty stable on the highway andjust locks in to anything up to 75.

I fit in it comfortably, even sitting in the back seat and I am 6'5" and all of 280 pounds at the moment.

If she likes them and needs AWD, has no use for real 4wd and does not know what a locker is, I would snag one. I want to say my folks were in the 21k neighborhood with it brand new. They did not get the L package and it does not have the cool hood scoop.

It makes a lot more sense and is a lot more usable than buying a pick that she does not completely use just to look tough.